ML20248H965
| ML20248H965 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/19/1978 |
| From: | Higginbotham L, Metzger J, Sly D NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-78-086, PNO-78-86, NUDOCS 9806080331 | |
| Download: ML20248H965 (2) | |
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PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION p
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April 19, 1978 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE -- PN0-78-86 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of an event of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance.
The information presented is as initially received without verification or evaluation and is basically all that is known by IE staff as of this date.
FACILITY:
AMAX Speciality Metals Corporation License No. SMA-1219 (Expired)
Parkersburg, West Virginia
SUBJECT:
0FFSITE THORIUM ORE CONTAMINATION The L. b. Foster Company purchased a 100-acre building site from AMAX Specialty Metals in March 1977 which had been used in the early 1960's for pilot plant recovery of hafnium, zirconium, and thorium from thorium-bearing ore.
The sale was contingent on the property being clear of radioactive ma'terials.
Foster retained an engineering consultant to determine the effectiveness of the AMAX cleanup following di,sposal of licensed material.
The consultant identified an area 300 yards outside g
the previous restricted area indicating a dose rate of 0.25 millirems s
per hour which may have exposed 15 20 Foster construction employees to i
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about 50 mil 1~irems during the past year.
During the closecut radiation survey and followup dsits by IE inspectors during 1977, localized areas of ground contamination were identified within the previous restricted area.
AMAX har taken initial corrective actions on the area and has stated that remaining contaminated areas will be removed.
The AMAX license did not permit burials or activities outside the restricted fenced-in area.
An IE inspector and a West Virginia health official are at the site to confirm the consultant's findings and to evaluate the situation.
Pre-liminary data indicates that an unused 60'x 40' dirt floor in a 200'x 200' high bay building under construction, outside the fenced-in restricted area, has a contact dose rate of 0.5 to 1.5 millirems per hour from buried thori,um ore.
Foster is restricting access and plans to excavate Current 'onditions do not the thorium and zirconium-bearing debris.
c appear to constitute a significant safety hazard.
Media lnterest may result from workers' knowledge of the consultant's report.
A news release is not planned by Foster.
NRC has prepared a response for nedia inquiries.
CONTINUED s
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9906000331 780419 PDR 18E PNO-78-086 PDR l
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Page 2 PHO-78-26
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Continued April 19,1978 l
Region II (Atlanta) received initial notification of this occurrence by telephone from the L. B. Foster Company at 3:30 p.m. on April 15, 1978.
This information is current as of 9:00 a.m. on April 19, 1978.
Contact:
JRMetzger, IE x28188 DKSly, IE x28184 LBHigginbotham, x28098 Distribution:
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Chairman Hendrie Commissioner Bradford Commissioner Kennedy S. J. Chilk, SECY C. C. Kammerer, CA Commissioner Gilinsky (For Distribution)
Transmitted:
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. IE L. V. Gossick, ED0 E. G. Case, NRR Region 3l2/f S. H. Hanauer, EDO J. J. Fouchard, PA SSBldg3 13 (MAIL)
R. Hartfield, MIPC C. V. Smith, NMSS T. J. McTiernan, OIA 4
R. G. Ryan, OSP R. Minogue, SD H. K. Shapar, ELD PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION M
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